Curried Salmon

There were quite a few of them including my worthless self in my hit list. I wanted to shoot them all point blank to death. Bang! Bang! Bang!

I tried so hard to protect myself from being constantly harassed at workplace. Authorities didn’t wanna make it too big of a deal. (Misdemeanors at workplace go unnoticed and unpunished in some male chauvinist parts of the world. ‘Code of conduct’ gets screwed pretty often. Hard stuff to swallow but no big deal.) Finally I quit my dream job. What else was I supposed to do? Kill ’em all?!

Sick ‘n tired, frustrated, freaked-out, pissed, heartbroken, I locked myself in my room. And started yelling at the walls, throwing stuff in all six directions ( to regain my self-worth. To restore my confidence, I think.)

My Mom-in-law kept on knocking on my door diligently every ten fifteen minutes. “Leave me the hell alone! Can’t I vandalize my own property in my own territory in peace?! I am free to kill myself at any rate I choose!” – I screamed in my head. I ignored her and continued to mind my own business.

She continued to whine and knock for six hours straight. I opened the door to tell her to the face, “STOP driving me crazy!” – Her 75 years old, skinny, bony, worried sick fingers  were holding a plate full of rice and some fish curry. She – calm, collective and poised as ever- said,”Have some food and make my day”.

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How did she sense that I needed a friend right then, right there to fill in my emptiness? How did she figure my stone-cold soul, my shattered heart, my starving stomach needed some warm fish and rice?

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I haven’t got to see my Mom-in-law for the last five years. But Every time I cook curried fish, I think of that disastrous day. I think of her delightfully stubborn presence and the way she saved my soul. That simple food she made for me puffed away my depression and boosted my self-esteem right away 🙂

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Ingredients:

Tomato 1, medium

Onion 1, small sized

Garlic 4 cloves

Chili flakes 2 pinches

Olive oil 4 tbsp

Salt to taste

Dill, a  handful

Fish 1 lb ( Salmon did great for me but you’re welcome to pick your choice of fish)

Method:

Pat dry washed fish

Make a smooth paste out of first four ingredients

Heat oil in a pan. Saute the paste in medium heat for about ten minutes. Add 1/4 cup water. Let it simmer for 5 minutes.

Add fish flakes/stakes in the pan. Coat well with the mixture. Cook for 10 minutes in high heat with the lid on.

Sprinkle chopped herbs. Serve hot with steamed rice.

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Now I know, if you are blessed with good friends, you are all set. You are good to go to deal with life; as stress and depression can not exist in friends’ presence. .

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 Category: Fish      Tagged:

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